Piano instruction device



1932- G. o. PIERCE PIANO INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed July 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

W; ATTORNEY.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. O. PIERCE PIANO INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed July 20, 1931 Nov. 29, 1932.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

1932; G. o. PIERCE PIANO INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed July 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. O. PIERCE Nov. 29, 1932.

PIANO INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed July 20, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fl ATTORNEY.

NOV. 29, G, MERGE PIANO INSTRUCTION DEVICE Filed July 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 PATENT OFFICE-- GLEN O. PIERCE, 011 DETROIT, MICHIGAN PIANO INSTRUCTION DEVICE Application filed July 20,

The object of my invention is to provide mechanical means for instructing a group of pupils in the art of piano playing, by visibly reproducing the key board action on an enlarged instruction wall board, and without the use of a piano or other similar musical instrument.

Another object is to produce a music instruction device whereby the piano key board action for any piece of music may be duplicated on a miniature operating key board and reproduced electrically on an enlarged instruction wall board where the key action is clearly visible to a class of music students- A further object is to provide a miniature operating key board with keys arranged similar to a piano key board, whereby any key or combination of keys may be depressed in a manner for restraining the keys in such depressed positions until released by special mechanism, and at the same time form an electrical contact in a circuit leading to the corresponding keys of'the wall instruction board for producing signal lights therein.

A still further object is to produce a small, portable piano instruction device suitable for carrying from place to place, that is simple in construction, easily and efiiciently operated and that can be manufactured at a very low cost.

These several objects are attained in the preferred form by the construction and arrangement of parts as are more fully hereinafter set forth.

Similar parts on all drawings are marked by similar numerals or letters.

Fig. 1 shows my instruction device completely assembled as appears when ready for use.

Fig. 2 is an end View of the assembled device showing the relative position of the miniature key board and instruction wall board.

r Fig. 3 shows the sections folded and packed together in a form for easily carrying the device.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the miniature key board box showing the operating keys mountr ed therein and the key release bar.

" Fig. 5 is a top view of the operating key 1931. Serial No. 551,951.

board box showing the relative position of the various operating keys.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5 showing the key arrangement. and the operating parts connected therewith.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail View taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 showing the electrical contact means as is attached to the bottom side of each key.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6 showing the key mountings and electrical contact clips.

Fig. 9 another horizontal sectional view taken on line 9 9 of the Fig. 5 showing the release bar with the series of electrical terminals mounted thereon, and the bar operating means.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of the front face of the instruction wall board showing the key positions and the light openings formed beneath the transparent sheet cover.

Fig. 11 a front view through the wall board taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 13, the front cover board being removed showing the inner light compartments and light bulbs 7 mounted therein.

Fig. 12 the back view of the instruction wall board showing the electrical wiring mounted thereon for connecting the various light bulbs in separate circuits.

Fig. 13 is a top View of the wall board showing the support means and the relative position of the double frame section.

Fig. 1% is a cross section of the wall board taken on the line 1414; of Fig. 12 showing the interior arrangement of the light bulbs and means for making electrical connections thereto.

Fig. 15 is a section of the top view of n the wall board at the center showing the hinge connection between the frame sections.

Fig. 16 is a diagram of the electrical circuit.

I will now describe more fully the detailed construction of my device, referring to the drawings and the marks thereon.

In general, my device comprises a miniature operating key board box A--, connected electrically to an enlarged instruction wall board -B designed to represent a piano key board, the wall board being provided with small electric light bulbs placed beneath the various key positions, capable of lighting he respective keys as the corresponding keys of the miniature key board box are depressed.

The instruction wall board B is preferably made of two elongated, rectangular sections 1 and -2 of equal dimensions, positioned end to end and joined together by the hinges 8, forming a continuous wall board face. The sections 1 and 2 are each made of a rectangular rim frame -a,

preferably formed of thin, light wood sections securely joined together at the corners, said rim frame being completely covered on one side by a front board "bsecurely attached thereto. The outer faces of the front boards -bare covered with transparent sheet covers c, preferably cloth, and designed, by painting or otherwise, to represent black and white key positions cZ- and e-, the two frame sections l and 2 when unfolded, representing the complete key positions of the ordinary piano key board. Through the front boards b, directly beneath the transparent sheet covers -c, are formed series of light openings f, one opening being positioned beneath each of the key positions -cZ and efor admitting light to the transparent sheet terminal wire 9 attached thereto.

cover and to designate chosen key positions indicated thereon. The back sides of the frame rims a are also closed by the back boards -7L securely and fixedly attached to the rim walls, forming enclosed chambers within the frame sections l and -2-.

Small supports rings 4- are fixedly mounted along the top edge of the wall board frame, providing means for suspending the wall board from suitable support hooks 5, or the frame may be supported on anylshelf or table support if desired.

The chambers within the frame sections 1- and 2 are divided into two parallel series of light recesses 7c and m by a longitudinal metal contact bar 5 centrally positioned lengthwise the respective frame sections, and the cross partition walls 6- leading thereto, each light recess being positioned directly back of one of the key positions'cZ- or e as indicated on the sheet cover -c. Within each of the light recesses -7c and m is mounted a metal bulb frame 7 fixedly attached to the back boards -h-, and each bulb frame carries a small electric light bulb 8 securely inserted therein and grounded against the longitudinal contact bar 5- which is connected in an electric circuit by a common Each of the bulb frames -7 is provided with a separate terminal wire +10 attached thereto for forming a complete electric circuit through each light bulb 8' separately when their respective terminal wires 10 are closed in circuit with the common terminal wire 9 through the connecting terminal bar -5, thus providing means for lighting any chosen bulb 8 independently of the others. The bulbs 8- are positioned within the light recesses 7c and mdirectly behind the respectivelight openings f of the front board b, capable of clearly radiating the light from the bulbs through the transparent sheet covers c for indicating, visibly, chosen key positions to be followed by the observing pupils. Y

The operating key board box -A is made of a small rectangular box casing 11- open at the top, and preferably made of some light material such as wood or some suitable light metal, and is provided with a rectangular shaped key bar 12 fixedly attached along the inner face of the back casing wall, near the top edge thereof, said key bar -12 being extended the full casing length. Pivotally mounted on the key bar 12- are series of black and white operating keys 13 and 14l, preferably of wood suitably topped, designed and positioned similarly to a piano key board, each operating key being connected to the key bar l2 by a hinge 15 attached along the bottom sides of both keys and bar. All keys 13 and 14 being formed with a rectangularly notched recess n at the back ends thereof for fitting over and engaging the key bar 12'when the keys are in a horizontal position, and each key is provided with a light key spring -16 attached to the back end thereof for retaining the keys in a horizontal position when not depressed by the operator. Along the bottom sides of each of the operating keys 13 and 14 is mounted a spring contact clip 17 fixedly attached to the respective keys by screw means, said contact clips being positioned thereon near the outer ends of the black operating keys 13e and in a straight alignment lengthwise the casing 11'. Directly beneath the line of contact clips 17 is a contact bar 18, also extendedthe full length of the casing -11 and slidably mounted therein by the extended bar ends engaging slotted recesses -19 formed through the casing end walls, allowing a slight sidewise displacement of the bar therein. The bar ends are preferably provided with suitable hand knobs 20 and 21 for more conveniently displacing the bar as desired. Small tension coil springs 22 are attached to each bar end and to the back casing wall for retaining said contact bar 18 in its back position directly beneath the, line of contact clips -17 when released. For more conveniently moving the bar 18- by one hand knob 20 only, an operating cord 23- may be attached to both of the bar ends and arranged through a series of cord pulleys 24 as indicated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, and which will displace both bar ends simultaneously if pressure is applied to the hand knob 20. It double cords were attached to the bar, oppositely arranged, the bar could be likewise displaced from either bar end. Along the top face of tlie contact bar -18 is mounted a series of contact plugs 24-, in straight alignment with and directly beneath the line of contact clips 17- when said bar -18 is in its back position, one plug -24? beneath each clip 17, and capable of en gaging therewith if the operating keys 13- or 14 are depressed lightly thereon, and if suflicient pressure is applied to the operating key the spring contact clip 17 will snap over the contact plug head 24 and retain the said keys in the depressed position until released by a sidewise displacement of the contact bar 18. Along one edge of the contact bar 18 is mounted a common terminal conduit wire 25 and which is electrically connected to each of the terminal plugs 2 l by short wire connectors 26 Also each of the contact clips 17 as mounted on the bottom of the operating keys 13- and 14 is pro ided with a separate insulated electric terminal wire l0. the same being the excnsion of the terminal wi e -10 of the wall hoard B- for the correr-ipondingly positioned key. The common terminal wire 9- of the wall board B and the terminal wire 25 of the operating key board he); -A are connected in any suitable electric circuit, such as a battery circuit or any suitable lighting circuit, and preferably provided with an operating switch 27 mount-- ed therein in the ordinary manner, the wiring for each key being illustrated in the diagram shown in Fig. 16 of the drawings. lVhcn the switch -27 is closed and any of the operating keys 13 or 14 or both, are depressed sufficiently to form a contact between the clips 17 and terminal plugs -24 the lightbulbs 8 beneath the corresponding key positions of the wall board -B- he lighted, and the key positions visibly indicated to the class of obse'ving music students who may then assume the same position on their desk linger charts. Gontinning and successive depresions of the keys -l3- and -l4l.-, may be made by the music instructor, or operator, all repeated b the students on their finger charts, th structing them the playing of an entire piece of music or exercise-v and in case the instructor may desire to leave the box for observing the corrcctr ss (f the pupils linger po or-s on their respective charts, any depressed key positions may be continued by simply d caressing the dc ired keys sufiiciently hard to or the contact clips 17 with the corresnondin terminal JlLI 2l, thus 1 will retaining the lighted positions of the corresponding keys on the wall board B- until released by a side displacement of the contact bar -l8- which moves the terminal plugs 24 outward and away from the clips -17 allowing the keys to all assume their normal horizontal. positions.

My device especially adapted for group instruction in piano playing, such as in school rooms where no piano available, and when the device is not in use it may be readily folded and packed together as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, for easily carrying rom one room or place to another.

Having fully described my piano instruction device, what I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent I claim:

,1. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board box, an instruction wall board designed replica of a piano key board, and means for conncctingz; each of the key positions of said wall board electrically to the correspondingly positioned key of the operating cy board box in a manner capable of pro-1h a visible signal for each wall board key positicn when the corresponding key of the operating key board box is depressed and capable of continuing the signal positions until released.

2. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board boX of light penetrating material, a wall instruction board de signed as a replica of a piano key board and having individual lighting means mounted beneath each key position capable of radiating light therethrough, and means mounted thereon for connecting each of the said key lighting means electrically with the correspondingly positioned key of the operating key board box in n anner capable of producing light beneath each wall board key position as the corresponding key of the operating key board box is depressed capable of continuing said lights until released.

3. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board be having keys arranged therein like a piano key board, each of said operating keys being provided with a closing switch means capable of locking when closed, an instruction wall. board of transparent material designed as a replica of a piano key board and provided with an individual electric light bulb beneath each key position in separated compartments capable of radiating light therethrongh, means mounted thereon for connectin each light bulb electrically to the switch means of the correspondingly positioned of the operating keyboard box and means for connecting said light bulbs and closing switches for the r spective keys in separate clectric circuits and capable of producing a signal ligh beneath the key positions of the transparent wall board when the box is depressed, and means for releasing the depressed key board box keys.

4. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board box having operating keys pivotally mounted therein and arranged like the keys of a piano key board, each of said keys being provided with spring means for retainingthe key in a horizontal position, also with separate electric switch means capable of locking when closed, an enlarged instruction wall board of transparent material designed as a replica of a piano key board and provided with a separated light compartment and an electric light bulb positioned beneath each of the key positions and capable of radiating light therethrough when the bulb is lighted electrically, and means mounted thereon for connecting each key light bulb electrically to the correspondingly positioned key of the operating key board box, and means for connecting said lightbulbs each in a separate electric circuit passing through the individual switch means of the correspondingly positioned key of the operating key board box and capable of lighting the bulb behind any transparent key position of the wall board when the corresponding key of the operating key board box is depressed and means for releasing the dcpressedkey board box keys.

5. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board box having keys pivotally mounted therein and positioned like the keys of a piano key board, each of said operating keys being provided with spring means for retaining the key in a hori zontal position, also with an individual elec tric terminal with terminal wire attached thereto, a common terminal bar mounted beneath the key terminals capable of engaging and locking with all of the key terminals when depressed thereon, an enlarged instruction wall board of transparent material designed as a replica of a piano key board and provided with separated light compartments and a small electric light bulb placed therein beneath each key position capable of radiating light therethrough when the bulb is lighted, means for connecting one terminal of each light bulb with the individual key terminal wire of the correspondingly positioned key of the operating key board, a common terminal bar mounted within said wall board for engaging the opposite bulb terminal of all of the light bulbs,and means for connecting said terminals in an electric circuit.

6. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board box having keys pivotally mounted therein and positioned like the keys of a piano key board, each of said operating keys being provided with a spring member for retaining the key in a horizontal position, also provided with an individual electric terminal with terminal wire attached thereto, a common terminal bar mounted beneath the key terminals and provided with individual terminals posi-' tioned one beneath each of the key terminals and capable of engaging and locking therewith when the corresponding operating key is depressed thereon for retaining the key in the depressed position, means mounted on mounted thereon for connecting one terminal of each key light bulb with the individual key terminal wire of the correspondinglypositioned key of the operating key board and means mounted thereon for connecting the opposite light bulb terminals in an electric circuit connected to pass through the terminal bar of the operating key board box.

7. A piano instruction device, comprising an operating key board box having keys pivotally mounted therein and positioned like the keys of a piano key board, each or said operating keys being providedwith a spring member for retaining the key in a horizontal position, also with an individual electric terminal with terminal wire attached, a terminal bar movably mounted beneath the key terminals and provided with terminal projections thereon positioned one beneath each of the key terminals and capable of engaging and locking therewith when the keys are depressed thereon, means mounted on said terminal bar for causing a displacement thereof for breaking the terminal connections with the various operating keys, an instruction wall board of light penetrating material designed as a replica of a piano key board and provided with a small electric light bulb placed beneath the key positions but separated from each other by compartment walls and capable of radiating light through the respective key positions, means mounted thereon for connecting one terminal of each of the key light bulbs with the individual key terminal wire of i the correspondingly positioned key on the operating key board, means mounted thereon for COnneCting the opposite light bulb terminals in an electric circuit passing through the terminal bar of the operating key board box.

8. An instruction wall board to be used in combinationwith an electrically operated key board box, comprising a' thin, fiat frame inclosure having one face of a transparent material and designed as a replica of a piano key board, small electric light bulbs mounted within the frame inclosure in individual light compartments arranged and positioned with one light bulb beneath each key position and capable of radiating light therethrough, and means mounted thereon for connecting said light bulbs in separate lighting circuits.- 9. An instruction wall board adapted for piano instructions and to be used in com- V bination with an electrical operating key 5 board box, comprising two thin, flat, frame inclosures joined together at the center by iinge members and having one face of a transpartent material and designed as a replica of a piano key board, a common electric terminal bar centrally mounted through the inclosures and provided with means for connecting same in an electric circuit, small light bulbs mounted within the frame inclosures within separated light compartments and having one terminal grounded with the common electrical terminal bar, said light bulbs being so arranged and positioned that one bulb is beneath each of the key positions capable of radiating light therethrough, and

means mounted thereon for connecting the opposite terminal of each light bulb Within a separate electric circuit passing through said common terminal bar.

10. An operating key board device to be used in combination with an electrical in-. struction wall board, comprising a suitable casing having a series of operating keys pivotally mounted therein, each of said keys being provided with a spring member attached thereto for retaining the keys in a predetermined position within the casing, an electric terminal with terminal wire attached fixedly mounted on each of the operating keys, and corresponding fixed terminals mounted with- 85 in the casing positioned directly beneath the key terminals so as to engage therewith when the respective operating keys are depressed, and means for connecting said fixed terminals to a common terminal wire.

11. An operating key board adapted for use in combination with an electrical instruction wall board, comprising a suitable casing having a series of operating keys pivotally mounted therein and positioned like the keys of a piano key board, each of said keys being provided with a spring member for retaining said keys in a predetermined position within the casing, an electric terminal with terminal wire attached fixedly mounted along the bottom side of each of the operating keys, a terminal bar movably mounted through the casing directly beneath the key terminals, said bar being provided with a series of fixed terminals mounted thereon and positioned with one terminal beneath each of the key terminals and capable of engaging therewith when the keys are depressed thereon for holding the said keys in a depressed position, means mounted thereon' for connecting all of the fixed terminals to a common circuit wire, and means provided for displacing the terminal bar for disengaging the fixed terminals from the key terminals.

In witness whereof I sign this specification.

GLEN O. PIERCE. 

